"My Israeli colleague has confirmed his readiness to
participate in preparing and holding the Moscow conference on a
Middle East settlement," Lavrov said.

Russia has repeatedly stated its readiness to hold a
conference on Palestinian-Israeli peace efforts. The
conference's agenda and date are still being determined.
However, before leaving for Russia, the Israeli foreign
minister said that the conference could be held at the end of
summer or in the fall.

Lavrov said that Medvedev and Lieberman had agreed that
preparations for the conference should be accelerated. He also
said that Lieberman had confirmed his readiness to hold talks
with the Palestinians.

"On behalf of the new Israeli government, the minister
confirmed his commitment to all earlier agreed on peace talk
deals," Lavrov said.

Talks between Israel and the Palestinian National
Authority stalled following an Israeli offensive on Gaza in
December which left some 1,300 Palestinians dead and 5,000
others injured.

U.S. President Barack Obama has pushed for a two-state
solution to the conflict, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has called for a tougher stance toward the
Palestinians, in contrast to his predecessor Ehud Olmert's
support for Palestinian statehood.